Direction-indicator.



L. M. BOWMAN. DIRECTION mom/non.

APPLICATI ON FILED N. 7.19%. 1,215,901. v

Patented Feb. 13,1917.

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- L/V'Bmaman L. M. BOWMAN. DIRECTION INDICATOR- --=APPuc/moN rltsn mu. 1. Isle. 1,215,91 a Paten Feb. 13, 1917.

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L. M. BOWMAN. DIRECTION mum/wore.

I APPLICATION FILED IAN. 7,1916- 1,215,901. Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

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L. M. BOWMAN. DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7. I916. I 1,215,901. Patented Fab.13,1917.

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k m I \\\x 66 9 #6 5 I 82 ML 7 I X y 52 I 50 5am III I w II; I I F "I PW I 0 5'3 LEVI M. BOWMAN, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR 0F,0NE-HALF To WILLIAM A.

, SMITH, or BARTLES-VILLE', OKLAHOMA.

DIRECTION-INDICATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LLEVI M. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of .Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indicators; and I'do hereby declare thefollowing tached to a motorvehi'cle to indicate to. persons approaching the vehicle from the for.- ward and rear ends, the direction to be taken by the operator of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having indicating arrows which are adapted to be illuminated after dark to enable the signal to. be easily read at night. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal adapted to be attached to the filling spout of the usual radiator at the forward end of the motor vehicleand a signal and combined tail light adapted to be secured to the-rear of the vehicle, thereby eliminating the necessity of using the ordinary type of tail light.

A still further ob e ct of the invention is to provide a novel-means for looking the indicator in either of its indicating posi? tions and holding the same until released. A further and more'specific object of the invention is to provide electromagnetic: means for controlling the movement of the indicating arrows and electromagnetic means for releasing the locking means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be controlled by three buttons, .one of which controls the movement of the indicating arrow to the left, they other the .movement of the indicating arrow to the right and the.

third the .return of the indicatpr to neutral position.

With these and other ob]ects=.in-vieW, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement. of parts which .will be fully-set forth in the follow ng specification and accompanying drawingsjin which Specif cation of Letters Patent.

. bottom wall 3.

Figure 1 1s a face view of a' direction in- Patented Feb. 13, 191%.

dicator constructed inaccordance with this invention which is adapted to be used in connection with the rear end of the vehicle Fig. 4 is a top plan VIQW of the indicator used at the forward end of the machine showing the cover plate removed.

- Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview through the matter illustrated in Fig. 4.

'Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view line 66 of F ig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the casing of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4 showingthe arrow removed to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 4.

- Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the commutator for controlling the return movement of the arrow, and

Fig. 10 is the wiring .diagram of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the casing of the device used at' the rear of the vehicle comprising the back wall 2 having formed at its lower edge the This back wall 2"is provided centrally .of. its upper edge with the semi-circular portion 4 and a suitable top wall 5 is. secured at the upper edge'of the back wall and is bent to conform to the shapeof thesemi-circular portion as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Formed integral with the side edges of the back 2 are the vertical side Walls 6 and a suitable-cover plate 7 is adapt- 95 I ed to be secured to the forward edges of the top, bottom and side wallsand this cover plate conformsto the shape of the back 2 and carries a suitablehollow cylindrical extension 8 in which is centrally mounted a lamp socket 9 for sup-porting the tail lamp 10. The outer end of the tubular body 8 is closed by a suitable lens 11 and the said body is formed onits under side with an elongated opening 12 closed by a suitable glass'panel 13 and this opening is adapted .to shed light down upon the indicating arrow as clearly shown in Fig. 2. I Secured to th back wall 2 of the casing intermediate the top and bottom 'walls are the forwardly extending arms 14 provided at their upper ends with the ears having apertures 1 formed therein. These arms are arranged in the same horizontal plane and are adapted for supporting the solenoids 17. The solenoids 17 are provided at their rear'ends with the bosses 18'having the radial apertures 19 formed therein which "are adapted for the receptionof the threaded end of the screws 20 which pass through theopenings 16 in the ears 15 and pivotally support the solenoids in place. The sliding cores f the solenoids are designatedbythe num jaial and each is provided witha reduc'e lxtension 22hav1ng formed therein formed}; dicating 'rrow. .This operating arm is posi-. 20 in'l ig. 3 and is secured to the shaft 27 on which the indicating arrow is mounted,v

The shaft 27 above referred to is -joura neutral; transverse opening 23. "These openings are adapted to receive the pivot pin 24 lextending through the opening 25 the operating arm 2bv of the intioned flet'ween the extension 22; as shown na'led in the front and rear-walls of the easing as shown in Fig. 2 and extends beyond the front wall and has. attached thereto the.

- upper end of the shaft-of the arrow designated by the numeral 28.- This arrow is pro-- vided with a suitable head 29 which is pointed in the usual manner and-it will thus be seen that when the same swings on its pivot the head will point in the direction to v be taken. A suitable reduced extension30 is formed on the operating arm 26 andthis extension is adapted to engage the latch membersto hold the arrow in its indicating position'as will-be more-fully hereinafter de- 'soribe'd; I a l Secured to the vertical side walls of the casing are the brackets 31 for supporting the pivot pins 32 on. which each latch 33 is mounted. "A suitable retractile coil spring 34 1 "i's secured tothe latch and to'theside wall and saidjspring is adapted to normally tend "to .move the latch members 33 outwardly on their ivotsj. A' stop 35 is provided to I prevent the eutward movement of the latch beyond. a predetermined point a-n'd'formed I fat the free-end of each latch member is a suitable' keeper 36'wh'ich is adapted to be enthe proper position and as soon asthe .end of the keeper has been reached, it-will be gral therewith.

seen that the latches will sW ing outwardly andhold-said arrow. a

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the

casing is designated by the numeral 38" and comprises the back wall 39 having the bottom wall 40 and side-walls 41 formed intedrawing and a suitable front wall 42 follows the curved edge as clearly shown in the drawings, and this wall. 42 extendsonly a shortdistance .on each side of the center of the edge andtferminates in a plane below the upper edges "of the side-and rear walls to accommodate the indicating arrow The front wall. of the casing is best illustrated in Fig.7 and comprises a curved plate43 The forward edge. ofthe front wall is curved as clearly shown in the provided near its upper edge with the lon'gi- ,tu'dinally extending slot 44 andcentra with an opening 45 extending from the loweredgeof the wall. The slot 44 is for the accommodation of the supporting shaft of, the arrow and the lower edge of the slot 44 lies .inthe same plane with the upper edge of the wall 42 herein'before referred to. It will thus be seen that the "wall 42 forms a closure for the opening 45 in the front wall 43 of theplate. A suitable attaching bracket 46 is secured to the rear wall and is adapted for supporting thesignal in place on the filling spout of the radiator of the vehicle on which the device is used.

Secured to the bottom wall 40 of 'the easing 38 area pair ofstandards 47 which are positioned in alinementand are provided at their upper ends jvith the "apertured ears .48 through which the pivot pins 49 extend.

' These pivot pins are for pivotally mounting the solenoids 50 having thesliding cores 51 which are pivotally connected together as shown in Fig. 6, and to which is pivoted the operating arm- 52 which is pivotally mountedon the; standard 53 secured centrally of the casing. The forward end of the operatingarm is provided] with a. sleeve .54. through which the hollow stemor shaft 55 forisupp ,rting the arrow extends. This .shaft 'is' secured in the sleeve 54. and project's out through the slot 44 in the front wall of said casing and is provided at its outer end with 'a suitable lamp socket 56 for supportingthe lamp bulb ,57. A'suitable' block a ofany desired materialpreferably insulat- :ing, designated by the numeral 58 is'supported on. the hollow shaft 55 near the easing and this block is provided with threaded sockets 59 in {which the screws- 60 extend. These screws 60 extend through suitable openingsinthe rear-end of the arrow body 61 which extends forwardly. and is provided 'withthe hollow: head .62. It will. be under-.

stood that; the vertical side walls of the arrow body and head; arepreferably formed 1 of :a suitable translucent material preferably white in color so that when the arrow' islet lighted at night the light may be readily conform to the curvature 68 of thestem 67 seen and the shape of the arrow clearly.

defined. It will also be seen thatthe color of the arrow will render the same readily distinguishable in the day time. Mounted on the arm-.52 is a suitable block 63 of metal provided in its upper end with a socket 64 in which is slidably mounted'the' brush .65 which is forced outwardly by the spring 66.' This brush is adapted to engage the commuta'tor illustrated in Fig. 9 which will be more plates 70 arc secured to opposite side faces of the stem and are provided with the reduced extensions 71 which are curved to and the ends. of said plates abut'the side faces of'the extension 69 so that .a neutral I point willbe formed in the, commutator.

This commutator isadapted to be engaged by the conductorfpin 65 and it will thus be seen that when the arrow is in either of its indicating positions, the conductor pin will "engage one of theflplates 70. A suitable screw threaded socket 72is formed-in the upperface ofthe block 67 and a screw 73 extends into said socket and provides a securing means for the springbrush 74: having formed thereon the downturned T- head 7 5. This T-headnormally bears on the upper side of the block 63 so as to form an electrical contact therewith.

In order to hold the arrow in either of its indicating positions there are provided the latches 76 which are pivotally mounted on p the brackets 77 near opposite sides of the casing 38 and formed at the free end of the latches 76 are the keepers 7 9 which extend downwardly and are provided with inclined faces 80. These keepers 7 9 are adapted to engage the shaft of the'arrow to hold the same in either of its indicating positions. A

suitable torsional spring 8-1is adapted to move the free ends of the latches downwardly. Suitable stops 82 are carried by the 5 brackets 77 and engage the armatures 83 formed on the latches 7 6 to limit the downward movement of the free ends of the latches as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. In order to release the latches after the device has been operated there are provided the electromagnets 84 which are adapted to attract the armatures 83 and bring the free ends of the latches upwardly on the pivots thereby disengaging the keepers from the shaft 55 and allowing the device to return to its original position.

Upon referring to the wiring diagram it willbe noted that upon pressure on the push button A tlie current will flow from the-power source 85 through-the wire 86 into thebranch wire 87 and thencethrough the push button and wire 88 to the electromagnet 84 at the left. The current will then pass through the wire 89 to the solenoid 50 at the right and thence back through a wire 90 to the ground 91 from whence it passes through the ground 92 and wire 93 back to the battery 85. It will thus be seen that the solenoid 50-will be energized, thereby throwing the indicating arrow to the left indicatingto persons approaching the vehicle that the drivers intention is to turn to the-left. Simultaneously with the energization of the front signalit will be seen that the cui rent will pass from the wire 88 to the branch wire 941 into the right solenoid 17 at the rear end of the vehicle thence'through' the wire 95 into'the ground. The current then. passes through the ground and back to the battery through the ground 92' and wire 93.1 Upon completing the circuit by pressure on the push button B, it will be evident that the current will flow from the batterythrough the wire 86 into the branch wire 98 thence through the Wire 99 to the T-headed brush 75, thence through "the socket' post 63 and brush 65 into the commutator plate 70, thence through the wire 100'into thewire 101 through the electromagnet 84 at the left through the wire 102 and left solenoid 50 through the wire 103 into the ground 92 and wire 93. back to the battery 85.v It will .thus be seen that the solenoid 50 will be energized to return the indicating arrow to its original position. Simultaneously with the operation'of the indicating arrow at the forward end of'the vehicle the current will flow through the wire 104 into the branch wires 105 and through the electromagnets 37 at the rear end of the vehicle andthe .wires 106 and grounds '107 back to the ground 2 and through the wire 93 back to thebattery. In this way it will be seen that the rear signal will be released and allowed to fall to its normal non'indicating position. Upon the pressure of the button C it will be evident that the left solenoid 50 will be energized. and the electromagnet 8a energized, thereby causing the arm, to swing to the opposite indicating position and upon pressure on.the button B,'it will be evident that it will be returned to neutral.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will pended claims.

z is claimed is: a

1. int a direction indicator, a pivoted indi I eating arrow, solenoids for moving' the ar- 'row' lnto either of its indicating positions, ele'ctromagnetically released latches holding the arrow in' either of its indicating p'osi- 'tiens, a stationary commutator,a brushicarried by the arrow for engagement with the commutator, and conductor plates on the commutator, the conductor plates being in circuit with the solenoids and electromag? netswhereby upon the passage of current through the device'the circuit will be completed through one of the electromagnets and solenoids'to return the arrow to its nonindicating position.

' 2i In-a direction indicator, an indicating arrow, solenoids for moving the arrow into 'either of its" indicating positions, latches for holding the arrow'in' either of. its indicating positions after having been moved .into.

place by the solenoids, electromagnets for indicating arm pivoted in tho housmg and extending beyond the same, solenoids ivthe arm to non-indicating position. Y 6. In a direction indicator, a housing, an

controlling said latches, a commutator hav- .ing a pair of conductor plates secured there- ,25 to, a brush for-engagement with the commutator, said brush being movable with the.

arrowf the, commutator plates being con-.

nected in series with respective latch electromagnets and solenoids whereby upon the passage of current-through the device-one of t e'electro-magnets and one of the solenoids illbe energized to return the arrow to nonv zindicating position: a

3. In a d 'rect1on indicator, an indicating arrow, solenoids for moving the arrow into eitherof its indicating positions, said solenoids being also adapted to return the arrow to non-indicating position, electro-magnetic latches for'holding the arrow in either 4,0. of its indicating positions, means to complete the circuit through one of the latch electrohiagnets upon the movement of "the arm into indicating position and to;break the circuit through said electromagnets upon '.the' energization of one of the. solenoids to return the arm to non-indicating position.

- 4. In a direction indicator, a swinging indicating arm, pivoted solenoids, sliding cores for said solenoids, a pivot connecting the'adjacent ends of the cores, a lever pivoted to the pivot for controlling the movement of thedndicatingarm, latches for locking said arm in either of its indicating positions and means controlling the energization of the solenoids and. simultaneously controlling the releasing'ofthe latches whereby upon energization of the-solenoid, the arm will be free .to return to its non-ind cating position.

5. In a directionindicator, a housing, an

longitudinal axes normally dispo ried by the indicating arm for cooperation for holding the. arm in either of its indicating positions, 'electromagnets. for. releasing the latches to allow the arm to return-t0 'mutator plates carried bythe insulator, the

rated for a-shortdistance, a brush carried bythe. indicating arm for cotiperation with' substantially .T-sha'ped conducting spring .ling the ,energization of the solenoids and the movements of the latches for returning indicating arm pivoted within the housing,

solenoids controlling the movements ofthe I indicating arm, electromagnetically c'ontrolled latches for holding the indicating arm in either of its indicating positions, an

insulator within the housing, commutator I plates carried by the insulator, a brush car-- with the commutator platesto controlthe' energization of the electromagnets of the" latches and the solenoids whereby when the arrow is in either of its indicating positions it may be returned to neutral by the ener-. gization of one of the electromagnets am one of the solenoids. t

.7. In a direction indicator, apivoted in.- dicating arm, solenoids -fox-,moving the arm into either of its indicating positions'latches non-indicating position, an insulator, com

adjacent ends of said plates being sew thecommutator' plates, said brush on the space between the ends of-the plates when the. arm is in non-indicating position.

arm is in indicating posit-ion whereby the controlling of the energization of the electromagnets and solenoids is efl'ected and'a for transmitting the power used for.operating the device to the brush. a In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1 LE\I M; BOWMAN;

Witnesses:

F; D. Pnex'rrcn, J. M. SMITH.

10s "and resting on one of the plates when the 

